Market Signal Briefing

Key Takeaways OPFI's auto-approval rate climbed to 79% in 3Q25, boosting revenues and margins by cutting interactions.OppFi saw expenses fall 490 basis points y/y in 3Q25, a trend expected to improve after LOLA.OppFi views LOLA as a scalable, AI-ready architecture designed to support long-term growth. OppFi (OPFI - Free Report) is optimistic about the long-term scalability of the Loan Origination Lending Application (LOLA). The CEO stated that LOLA will serve as a clean architecture made to take advantage of swiftly developing AI tools in originations, servicing and corporate operations. The company plans to test it throughout the fourth quarter of 2025 and eventually migrate it in the first quarter of 2026.

One of the early success indicators of LOLA includes increased automated approval, which serves as the driving force behind OPFI’s top-line gains and margin expansion. In the third quarter of 2025, auto-approval rates increased to 79% year over year, which not only improved revenues but also reduced expenses by lowering human interaction. Therefore, an enhancement in the auto-approval will provide a significant bump in OPFI’s ability to improve credit quality.

Although the path to success might appear clear, the company might have to shoulder operational risks. The pivot to LOLA requires careful execution to mitigate disruptions. Despite the potential risks, the CEO is highly optimistic about OppFi’s ability to generate double-digit revenues and adjusted net income growth in 2026.

OppFi is known to cater to the population with high credit risks. Therefore, the combination of LOLA and Model 6.1 refit will improve precision to assess credit quality, improving loan volume. In the third quarter of 2025, OppFi registered a year-over-year decline of 490 basis points in the percentage of expenses to revenues, which can further improve post LOLA migration. Considering the successful implementation of this technology, we expect OPFI to maintain high margins, serving well in its future performance.

OPFI’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesThe OppFi stock has lost 9.1% in a year against the 11.9% fall in its industry. OPFI’s industry peer Global Payments (GPN - Free Report) has declined 30%, while Cantaloupe (CTLP - Free Report) has gained 33.6%.

1-Year Share Price PerformanceImage Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation perspective, OPFI trades at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio of 5.87X, lower than Cantaloupe’s 23.01X, while trading at a premium compared with Global Payments’ 5.41X.

P/E - F12MImage Source: Zacks Investment Research

OppFi and Global Payments have a Value Score of A, while Cantaloupe carries a Value Score of C.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for OppFi’s earnings per share for 2025 and 2026 has been unchanged at $1.57 and $1.71, respectively, over the past 60 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

OPFI currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 (Strong Buy) Rank stocks here.

Klöckner & Co SE (KLKNF) M&A Call January 16, 2026 8:30 AM EST

Company Participants

Melissa Dykstra - Vice President of Corporate Communication & Investor Relations
Geoffrey Gilmore - CEO, President & Director
Timothy Adams - VP & CFO

Conference Call Participants

Philip Gibbs - KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc., Research Division
John Tumazos - John Tumazos Very Independent Research, LLC
Martin Englert - Seaport Research Partners
Timna Tanners - Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Research Division

Presentation

Operator

Good morning, and welcome to Worthington Steel's January 16 Investor Call. [Operator Instructions] Now I'll turn the call over to Melissa Dykstra, Vice President of Corporate Communications and Investor Relations.

Melissa Dykstra
Vice President of Corporate Communication & Investor Relations

Thank you, operator. Good morning, and thank you for joining us for today's call. I'm Melissa Dykstra, Vice President of Corporate Communications and Investor Relations at Worthington Steel. With me today are Geoff Gilmore, our President and CEO; and Tim Adams, our Chief Financial Officer.

On Slide 1, you will find our safe harbor statement. Before we begin, I'd like to remind everyone that certain statements made today are forward-looking within the meaning of the 1995 Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those suggested. Today's call is being recorded, and a replay will be available later today on worthingtonsteel.com. With that, I'll turn the call over to Geoff.

Geoffrey Gilmore
CEO, President & Director

Thanks, Melissa. This is an exciting day for Worthington Steel. We are taking a strategic and transformative step in our growth journey.

Through the acquisition of Kloeckner, we will strengthen our position in high-value metals processing, create meaningful value for our shareholders, deepen our strong relationships with our customers and suppliers, and generate new opportunities for our employees.

January 16, 2026 12:17 ET  | Source: Chino Commercial Bancorp

CHINO, Calif., Jan. 16, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Board of Directors of Chino Commercial Bancorp (OTC: CCBC), the parent company of Chino Commercial Bank, N.A., announced the results of operations for the Bank and the consolidated holding company for the fourth quarter and year-ended December 31, 2025. 

Net earnings for the fourth quarter of 2025 were $1.41 million, reflecting an increase of $15.5 thousand, or 1.11%, compared to the same period last year. Basic and diluted earnings per share were $0.44 for the fourth quarter of 2025, up from $0.43 for the same quarter in 2024. Net earnings year-to-date increased by 13.74% or by $706 thousand, to $5.84 million, as compared to $5.14 million for the same period last year.  Net earnings per share was $1.82 for the period ending December 31, 2025, and $1.60 for the same period last year.

Dann H. Bowman, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, “2025 was a very good year for the Bank, with new records set for total assets, deposits, loans, revenue and consolidated net profit.  In addition, credit quality remains strong, with the Bank having no delinquent loans at year-end.” 

During 2025 the Bank opened its fifth branch office in Corona, with initial business development efforts yielding strong results.  At year-end the new branch had $13.4 million in deposits and $12.3 million in loans. 

The Bank’s Merchant Services program continues to deliver reliable credit card processing services for its customers, with significant savings and improved cash-flow options. In 2025 the Bank’s Merchant Services Program processed approximately $60 million in payments.

Financial Condition

As of December 31, 2025, total assets reached $494.2 million, representing an increase of $27.5 million, or 5.9%, from $466.7 million on December 31, 2024. Total deposits rose by $21.3 million, or 6.1%, to $370.2 million, up from $348.9 million on December 31, 2024. Core deposits accounted for 97.0% of total deposits as of December 31, 2025.

Gross loans increased by $15.3 million, or 7.5%, totaling $220.6 million as of December 31, 2025, compared to $205.2 million as of December 31, 2024. The Bank reported no delinquent loans, and three non-performing loans on non-accrual status, as of December 31, 2025.  As of December 31, 2024, the Bank reported no delinquent loans and five non-performing loans on all on nonaccrual status. There were no Other Real Estate Owned (OREO) properties reported on either date.

Earnings

The Company reported net interest income of $4.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2025, compared to $3.8 million for the same period in 2024. Average interest-earning assets were $430.1 million, while average interest-bearing liabilities totaled $225.6 million, resulting in a net interest margin of 3.81% for the fourth quarter of 2025. This compares favorably to the prior year’s fourth-quarter margin of 3.44%, based on average interest-earning assets of $433.4 million and average interest-bearing liabilities of $234.0 million.

Non-interest income totaled $945.4 thousand in the fourth quarter of 2025, an increase of 15.78% compared to $816.5 thousand in the fourth quarter of 2024. Most of the increase was driven by merchant services processing revenue totaling $277.3 thousand for the quarter, up $143.3 thousand, or 107%, from $133.9 thousand in the fourth quarter of 2024.

General and administrative expenses totaled $2.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2025, compared to $2.6 million for the same period in 2024. The largest component of these expenses was salary and benefits, which amounted to $1.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2025, up from $1.6 million in the prior year.

Income tax expense for the quarter was $547.6 thousand, reflecting a decrease of $7.2 thousand, or 1.3%, compared to $554.8 thousand for the same period last year. The Company’s effective income tax rate was approximately 28.0% for the period ending December 31, 2025, and 28.5 for the same period last year.

Forward-Looking Statements

The statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements based on management’s current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on the Company.  Readers are cautioned not to unduly rely on forward-looking statements.  Actual results may differ from those projected.  These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to, the health of the national and California economies, the Company’s ability to attract and retain skilled employees, customers’ service expectations, the Company’s ability to successfully deploy new technology and gain efficiencies therefrom, and changes in interest rates, loan portfolio performance, and other factors.

Contact: Dann H. Bowman, President and CEO or Melinda M. Milincu, Senior Vice President and CFO, Chino Commercial Bancorp and Chino Commercial Bank, N.A., 14245 Pipeline Avenue, Chino, CA. 91710, (909) 393-8880.

   Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition  As of 12/31/2025   Dec-2025
Ending BalanceDec-2024
Ending BalanceAssets  Cash and due from banks$45,883,735$45,256,619Cash and cash equivalents$45,883,735$45,256,619   Fed Funds Sold$10,433$31,029   Investment securities available for sale, net of zero  allowance for credit losses$11,545,192$6,558,341Investment securities held to maturity , net of zero  allowance for credit losses$195,829,795$190,701,756Total Investments$207,374,987$197,260,097   Gross loans held for investments$220,584,180$205,235,497Deferred loan fees, net($483,539)
($504,564)
Allowance for Loan Losses($4,915,464)
($4,623,740)
Net Loans$215,185,177$200,107,193Stock investments, restricted, at cost$3,662,000$3,576,000Fixed assets, net$8,117,396$7,255,785Accrued Interest Receivable$1,673,768$1,539,505Bank Owned Life Insurance$8,728,882$8,482,043Other Assets$3,527,089$3,170,159   Total Assets$494,163,469$466,678,432   Liabilities  Deposits  Noninterest-bearing$181,348,771$166,668,725Interest-bearing$188,819,543$182,200,703Total Deposits$370,168,314$348,869,428   Federal Home Loan Bank advances$0$0Federal Reserve Bank borrowings$60,000,000$60,000,000Subordinated debt$10,000,000$10,000,000Subordinated notes payable to subsidiary trust$3,093,000$3,093,000Accrued interest payable$133,875$132,812Other Liabilities$2,022,314$1,877,996Total Liabilities$445,417,503$423,973,236   Shareholder Equity  Common Stock **$10,502,558$10,502,558Retained Earnings$39,905,329$34,059,943Unrealized Gain (Loss) AFS Securities($1,661,921)
($1,857,305)
Total Shareholders' Equity$48,745,966$42,705,196   Total Liabilities & Shareholders' Equity$494,163,469$466,678,432   ** Common stock, no par value, 10,000,000 shares authorized and 3,211,970 shares issued and outstanding at 12/31/2025 and 12/31/2024      Consolidated Statements of Net Income    As of 12/31/2025     Dec-2025
QTD BalanceDec-2024
QTD BalanceDec-2025
YTD BalanceDec-2024
YTD BalanceInterest Income    Interest & Fees On Loans$3,557,778$3,359,803$13,848,800$11,924,729Interest on Investment Securities$1,874,968$1,678,970$7,139,024$7,404,335Other Interest Income$179,251$522,178$860,075$2,703,762Total Interest Income$5,611,997$5,560,951$21,847,899$22,032,826     Interest Expense    Interest on Deposits$1,180,938$1,159,323$4,933,384$4,415,006Interest on Borrowings$315,701$645,757$1,348,337$3,901,895Total Interest Expense$1,496,639$1,805,080$6,281,721$8,316,901     Net Interest Income$4,115,358$3,755,871$15,566,178$13,715,925     Provision For Loan Losses/(Recoveries)$261,915$3,186$282,335($12,126)
     Net Interest Income After Provision for Loan Losses$3,853,443$3,752,685$15,283,843$13,728,051     Noninterest Income    Service Charges and Fees on Deposit Accounts$442,973$463,392$1,941,263$1,809,083Interchange Fees$108,833$108,322$437,002$417,002Earnings from Bank-Owned Life Insurance$65,090$60,395$246,839$234,869Merchant Services Processing$277,302$133,953$802,744$544,675Other Miscellaneous Income$51,220$50,483$276,330$199,493     Total Noninterest Income$945,418$816,545$3,704,178$3,205,122     Noninterest Expense    Salaries and Employee Benefits$1,823,836$1,611,953$6,629,783$6,056,072Occupancy and Equipment$229,830$177,419$854,534$692,705Merchant Services Processing$96,959$76,239$329,878$298,294Other Expenses$689,886$753,539$3,016,062$2,717,769     Total Noninterest Expense$2,840,511$2,619,150$10,830,257$9,764,840     Income Before Income Tax Expense$1,958,349$1,950,081$8,157,765$7,168,333Provision For Income Tax$547,574$554,799$2,312,379$2,029,122     Net Income$1,410,775$1,395,282$5,845,386$5,139,211     Basic earnings per share$0.44$0.43$1.82$1.60     Diluted earnings per share$0.44$0.43$1.82$1.60      Financial Highlights    As of 12/31/2025     Dec-2025
QTDDec-2024
QTDDec-2025
YTDDec-2024
YTDKey Financial Ratios    Annualized Return on Average Equity11.70%13.17%12.89%12.82%Annualized Return on Average Assets1.23%1.21%1.31%1.09%Net Interest Margin3.81%3.44%3.70%3.08%Core Efficiency Ratio56.13%57.28%56.20%57.71%Net Chargeoffs/Recoveries to Average Loans-0.003%
-0.08%
-0.004%
-0.09%
      3 month ended
Dec-2025
QTD Avg3 month ended
Dec-2024
QTD AvgDec-2025
YTD AvgDec-2024
YTD AvgAverage Balances    (thousands, unaudited)    Average assets$457,127$458,297$447,790$468,908Average interest-earning assets$430,056$433,466$421,691$444,238Average interest-bearing liabilities$225,586$234,044$225,450$249,859Average gross loans$215,740$202,059$210,230$191,089Average deposits$378,660$358,999$370,327$341,175Average equity$47,958$42,040$45,475$39,986      Dec-2025
QTDDec-2024
YTD  Credit Quality    Non-performing loans$705,729$1,228,165  Non-performing loans to total loans0.32%0.60%  Non-performing loans to total assets0.14%0.26%  Allowance for credit losses to total loans2.23%2.25%  Nonperforming assets as a percentage of total loans and OREO0.32%0.60%  Allowance for credit losses to non-performing loans695.15%376.48%       Other Period-end Statistics    Shareholders equity to total assets9.86%9.15%  Net Loans to Deposits58.13%57.36%  Non-interest bearing deposits to total deposits48.99%47.77%  Company Leverage Ratio11.70%10.40%  Core Deposits / Total Deposits96.96%97.31%  

DAVE INC (DAVE) witnessed a jump in share price last session on above-average trading volume. The latest trend in earnings estimate revisions for the stock doesn't suggest further strength down the road.

Everything from coffee to a used car is more expensive these days, and now your music streaming service is too. Spotify announced this week that it will raise prices for U.S. subscribers—again. 

Spotify Premium plans will jump up to $12.99 from $11.99 starting with the next billing date. The streamer last increased prices for U.S. users in 2024 after a decade-plus run of charging $9.99 for ad-free listening on its Premium individual streaming plan.

The main individual plan isn’t the only Spotify subscription getting a price hike. Discounted student plans are getting bumped up to $6.99 from $5.99, the Duo two-person plan will go to $18.99 from $16.99 and the streamer’s Family plans will hop to $21.99 from $19.99. Users outside the U.S. in Estonia and Latvia will also see prices go up next month.

Spotify offered little in the way of explanation for the pricing changes. “Occasional updates to pricing across our markets reflect the value that Spotify delivers, enabling us to continue offering the best possible experience and benefit artists,” the company wrote in a blog post announcing the new pricing scheme.

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The early 2026 pricing changes are the third time Spotify has raised prices for U.S. listeners since launching in the country in 2011. Two of those price hikes were back-to-back $1 increases, one in 2023 and one in 2024. In 2024, Spotify explained that the service would “occasionally” update its pricing in order to “continue to invest in and innovate on our product features and bring users the best experience”—language echoed in its short statement on the latest price increase.

Why is Spotify raising prices?Spotify isn’t explaining much about the decision to tack another dollar onto its core Premium subscription service, but the company is in a very different place now compared to when it was duking it out with Pandora in the dark ages of music streaming more than a decade ago. 

Now, the Swedish company is the globally dominant force in streaming audio, boasting north of 713 million users and 281 million paid subscribers worldwide—up from 252 million in 2024. Apple Music and Amazon Music are the next closest competitors, but Spotify sits pretty with a much bigger share of the market. 

Explore Topicsmusic streamingnewsSpotify

Chain-abstraction stablecoin system River (RIVER) has quietly done more than a 10x since Christmas Day, outperforming the digital asset markets. RIVER Reaches a $3.

Ethereum and XRP spot ETFs took in fresh money on Jan. 15, even as prices slid across the crypto market. Ethereum funds led the day with about $164 million in net inflows, while XRP products added $17.06 million.

Ethereum Sees $164M ETF Inflows on Jan. 15Ethereum spot exchange traded funds recorded about $164 million in net inflows on Jan. 15, according to daily flow data across major U.S. issuers. The gains marked one of the stronger single day inflow totals this month, driven mainly by BlackRock’s ETHA, which added roughly $149 million, while Grayscale’s ETH product contributed about $15 million. Most other listed Ethereum ETFs reported flat activity during the session, showing that inflows remained concentrated in a small number of funds.

Ethereum ETF Inflows Jan. 15. Source: The Farside Investors

The Jan. 15 result followed several volatile sessions earlier in the month, when Ethereum ETFs alternated between sharp inflows and outflows. Despite that uneven pattern, cumulative net inflows across all Ethereum spot ETFs have climbed to nearly $12.9 billion, highlighting sustained institutional interest since launch. The data also show that recent inflows came without broad participation from smaller issuers, suggesting selective positioning rather than a market wide surge.

XRP ETFs Add $17M in Daily InflowsMeanwhile, U.S. spot XRP exchange traded funds recorded $17.06 million in net inflows on Jan. 15, according to market data tracking daily fund activity. The inflows lifted cumulative net inflows to about $1.27 billion, while total net assets across XRP ETFs reached roughly $1.51 billion, representing about 1.21% of XRP’s market capitalization. Trading activity remained moderate, with total value traded near $22 million during the session.

XRP ETF Net Inflows Jan. 15. Source: SoSoValue

Flows varied across issuers, showing uneven participation. Bitwise’s XRP ETF led daily inflows with $7.16 million, followed closely by Grayscale’s GXRP, which added $7.20 million. Franklin Templeton’s XRPZ contributed $3.36 million, while Canary’s XRPC posted a $659,000 outflow. Meanwhile, 21Shares’ TOXR reported no change on the day, keeping its daily net flow flat.

Despite the positive fund flows, XRP ETF prices declined alongside the broader market. Most products closed lower on the session, with daily price drops ranging between 3% and 4%, even as assets under management held steady. The divergence between inflows and price movement suggests continued allocation into XRP ETFs, even as short term market pressure weighed on prices.

Cryptocurrency exchange BTCC has captured a striking wave of investor demand for gold trading on blockchain networks, crossing the $5.7 billion mark in annual tokenized gold volume during 2025.

This surge reflects a broader institutional pivot toward “real-world assets,” traditional investments like commodities and precious metals converted into digital tokens, as traders increasingly view gold as a hedge against geopolitical uncertainty and market turbulence.

The milestone underscores how crypto platforms are evolving beyond pure digital currencies into full-fledged alternatives to traditional commodity trading.

Gold’s explosive growth outpaces broader crypto markets Copy link to section

The numbers tell a striking story.

BTCC’s gold trading volume skyrocketed 809% between the first and fourth quarters of 2025, with Q4 alone generating $2.74 billion, nearly half the year’s total.

That’s not incremental growth; it’s market acceleration driven by genuine structural shifts in how traders access precious metals.

What’s more revealing is gold’s dominance within BTCC’s ecosystem.

While the exchange processed $53.1 billion in total futures volume across all asset classes in 2025, tokenized gold captured 10.7% of that pie.

Q4 alone saw a 130% quarter-over-quarter increase in gold product volume.

More importantly, it was the fastest-growing segment, expanding roughly eight times over the year. For context, few asset classes on crypto platforms achieve such growth rates without fundamental catalysts.

Why gold? Macro headwinds and policy uncertainty Copy link to section

Marcus Chen, BTCC’s Product Manager, attributed the surge to “gold’s rally driven by geopolitical tensions and policy uncertainty.”

As gold prices hit record highs, our tokenized products give our users direct access to trade precious metals with cryptocurrency on the BTCC platform

Throughout 2025, gold prices climbed toward record highs as investors hedged against risks including trade wars, regional conflicts, and unpredictable central bank policies.

When traditional markets feel shaky, gold historically becomes the safe harbor.

BTCC capitalized on this by offering three different tokenized gold products: GOLDUSDT for spot price exposure, PAXGUSDT backed by Paxos’ regulated physical gold token, and XAUTUSDT linked to Tether’s on-chain gold offering.

The variety matters. Different products serve different trader preferences; some want pure price exposure, others want the comfort of physical backing, and some need on-chain liquidity for decentralized finance activities.

BTCC’s results hint at where the cryptocurrency industry is heading.

Regulators and institutional investors have long demanded that crypto platforms offer “real” assets, things with tangible value outside the digital realm.

Tokenized commodities deliver exactly that. The exchange signaled bigger ambitions ahead.

Chen noted that “gold is just the beginning” and that BTCC is exploring other commodities and traditional finance products.

We’re actively working on expanding into other commodities and traditional finance products. With what we’ve built here, BTCC is ready to bring tokenization to a much wider range of assets and make them accessible to traders everywhere

For a crypto industry still fighting legitimacy battles, that diversification could prove decisive in attracting mainstream capital.

Binance, a leading cryptocurrency exchange, will terminate network support for ARB and 1INCH, among others, effective January 22. This decision is significant as it may affect millions of users who could face potential losses if tokens are transferred via the now-restricted chains.

The move by Binance is part of a broader trend within the cryptocurrency industry, where exchanges are recalibrating their offerings in response to evolving market dynamics and regulatory requirements. As one of the major players in the crypto exchange market, Binance’s decisions are closely watched by both investors and industry analysts.

Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and similar financial products are key components of modern financial markets. ETFs typically track the performance of specific assets or indexes and are traded on stock exchanges. In the context of cryptocurrencies, a ‘spot’ ETF refers to a fund that directly holds the digital asset. Companies file for ETF approvals to offer diversified investment opportunities to their clients. The approval process can involve rigorous regulatory scrutiny to ensure compliance with financial standards.

Regulatory bodies play a crucial role in shaping the cryptocurrency landscape. They focus on ensuring market integrity, safeguarding investor interests, and promoting transparency. Approval processes for new financial products involve examining factors such as custody solutions, market surveillance mechanisms, and adequate disclosures.

Institutional investors, such as large banks and asset managers, are increasingly exploring cryptocurrency products. This interest is driven by client demand for diversified investment options and the potential to generate fees from new financial products. Cryptocurrencies offer alternative access routes for investors looking to expand their portfolios beyond traditional assets.

Bitcoin, as the largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, continues to dominate the digital asset space. Its role as a store of value and medium of exchange underpins its widespread adoption. On the other hand, platforms like Solana offer smart contract capabilities, enabling the development of decentralized applications. These networks contribute to the evolving landscape of blockchain technology.

Cryptocurrency investments carry inherent risks. Market volatility, liquidity conditions, and operational challenges are common concerns for investors. Additionally, regulatory uncertainty can impact the viability and adoption of crypto products. Tracking errors and fees associated with investment vehicles are other factors that investors must consider.

The competitive landscape in the cryptocurrency exchange market is dynamic, with multiple issuers often seeking to launch similar products. The approval timelines for new products can be unpredictable, and amendments to proposals are frequently necessary. This environment demands agility and adaptability from market participants.

The next steps following Binance’s decision may include further adjustments to its cryptocurrency offerings or responses from affected users. Regulatory reviews and public comments may influence the direction of future developments. Stakeholders will be closely monitoring the situation for any updates on potential changes or additional announcements from Binance.

As the cryptocurrency industry continues to evolve, market participants remain vigilant to the shifts in policy and operations that can impact their strategies and investments.

Post Views: 1

Fri, 16/01/2026 - 15:37

XRP price might have reversed its uptrend, but the Bollinger Bands hint that more of an uptick is likely.

Cover image via U.Today Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by our writers are their own and do not represent the views of U.Today. The financial and market information provided on U.Today is intended for informational purposes only. U.Today is not liable for any financial losses incurred while trading cryptocurrencies. Conduct your own research by contacting financial experts before making any investment decisions. We believe that all content is accurate as of the date of publication, but certain offers mentioned may no longer be available.

The XRP price fell by over 2.25% in the last 24 hours as it performed below the broader cryptocurrency market. Despite this mildly negative outlook, the XRP technical chart signals a rally might be underway, as XRP’s Bollinger Bands indicate a potential breakout.

XRP holds key $2 support as Bollinger Bands tightenData from CoinMarketCap reveal that the XRP price has been trading between a low of $2.06 and a high of $2.13 within this period. That is, despite the price decline, the coin is holding steady above the $2 support zone and the lower Bollinger Band of $2.05.

XRP’s middle and upper Bollinger Bands sit at $2.07 and $2.08, respectively. With XRP currently trading within these zones, the coin is likely to witness a breakout if market conditions align.

Notably, XRP bulls need to step in and ensure the trading volume exits the red zone for this to happen. Volume is currently down by 30.42% at $2.53 billion, possibly due to the market-wide sell-off triggered by profit-taking within this period.

XRP Price Chart | Source: TradingView/CoinMarketCapFor clarity, XRP is liquidity sensitive, and its price movement generally reflects market moves. Hence, when Bitcoin and Ethereum faced rejection, it accelerated XRP’s decline.

However, with the asset’s Bollinger Bands setup, XRP might rebound soon. As of press time, the XRP price was exchanging hands at $2.06, which represents a 2.6% decline in the last 24 hours. If the coin is able to close above $2.09, which is higher than the upper Bollinger Band, a recovery move could be confirmed.

Market participants would need to focus on XRP's price movement in the next 48 hours to confirm a possible rally. More importantly, the asset’s trading volume has to exit the red zone to rekindle investors’ confidence.

Rising interest and Binance integration fuel XRP's outlookAccording to a U.Today report, there is growing interest in XRP. On social media platform X, the number of searches for the asset recorded a spike amid recent development. XRP ranked at the top with other notable cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum.

The development suggests that potential investors might be monitoring XRP’s performance and outlook. If so, stability in price could attract more investors, which could boost the price in the long run.

Meanwhile, XRP is working on a major integration with the Binance team. EasyA cofounder Dom Kwok recently hinted at a "very bullish" meeting with the BNB team. If the partnership sails through, it has the potential to expand XRP’s reach in the crypto sector.

Related articles

Fri, 16/01/2026 - 15:41

XRP just bounced off a key Bollinger Band level on the monthly chart and now eyes a 55% move against Bitcoin, setting up a potential rare February reversal.

Cover image via U.Today Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by our writers are their own and do not represent the views of U.Today. The financial and market information provided on U.Today is intended for informational purposes only. U.Today is not liable for any financial losses incurred while trading cryptocurrencies. Conduct your own research by contacting financial experts before making any investment decisions. We believe that all content is accurate as of the date of publication, but certain offers mentioned may no longer be available.

XRP may be ready to break free from its February underperformance curse. After years of lagging behind Bitcoin during this season, the XRP/BTC pair on TradingView is flashing one of its most promising upside setups in recent memory, with a 50% increase as the target.

On the monthly chart, XRP just tested and bounced off the midline of the Bollinger band, represented by a 20-month moving average, which is currently near 0.00001988 BTC. From here, a return to the top band at 0.00003343 BTC would represent a 55% gain, which is a level that XRP has not reached since summer 2023. 

XRP/BTC by TradingViewThe last time this pair formed a similar candle structure with a volume breakout and reclaimed the midband, XRP/BTC surged 60% in four weeks.

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However, February has historically been unfavorable for XRP. In the last 10 years, the altcoin has beaten Bitcoin in February only once, in 2021, when it surged 122.1%, while Bitcoin barely moved. 

Every other year? Losses or underperformance. The median February return for XRP is -8.12%. Bitcoin's median: +12.2%. 

XRP supercycle theory Historically, February is when BTC takes the lead. This makes the current technical setup all the more important. If XRP breaks this pattern, both technically and seasonally, it could trigger a rotation narrative where funds reallocate from Bitcoin to high-beta majors like XRP.

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If XRP manages to outperform Bitcoin in February, it will not just be a rare achievement; it could signal the beginning of a significant XRP/BTC supercycle, which has not occurred since the 2017-2018 boom.

For now, the setup is there. History says "no." The chart says "maybe." However, if XRP pulls this off, it will be one of the rarest flips in the cycle, and it begins now.

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Fri, 16/01/2026 - 15:45

Bitcoin is racing back toward $100,000, but the charts are throwing out red flags: Bollinger Bands, a looming death cross and daily MA resistance suggest this comeback hides a brutal bull trap.

Cover image via U.Today Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by our writers are their own and do not represent the views of U.Today. The financial and market information provided on U.Today is intended for informational purposes only. U.Today is not liable for any financial losses incurred while trading cryptocurrencies. Conduct your own research by contacting financial experts before making any investment decisions. We believe that all content is accurate as of the date of publication, but certain offers mentioned may no longer be available.

Bitcoin is rapidly approaching six-figure territory once again, but as crypto bulls rejoice over this comeback, some technical indicators are sending a not-so-subtle warning: this achievement might not be as positive as it seems on the TradingView chart.

The 20-week moving average — which is also the middle of the Bollinger Bands — is sitting right at $100,000 per BTC. At first glance, it seems like the next obvious breakout zone. 

But the ugly truth is that Bitcoin has been struggling to break through that resistance since October, and now it is back to testing it with increased volatility and lower trading volume.

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BTC/USD by TradingViewWhat's more, two key weekly moving averages — the 23-week and the 50-week — are bending into a potential death cross right around the same price. This is not a minor crossover in a short time frame. It is a rare, high-signal setup that often marks macro pivot points. If that cross completes, Bitcoin risks staying below six figures much longer than bulls are expecting.

Triple resistance for BitcoinTake a look at the daily chart, and you will see another resistance pop up: the 200-day moving average. It is sitting just above $99,000, which puts more pressure on the market, squeezing price action into a triple-layer resistance wall.

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Thus, while everyone is rushing into the long side again, hoping for a clean break to $107,000 or even the post-ETF target at $124,000, the price history reminds us that the "irst kiss" of the Bollinger's midband after a correction does not come easy — and often fails.

Bitcoin might still punch through. But if it does, it will not be because of the trend lines. It will be in spite of them.

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Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) is slowly pushing up to $100,000, but traders warn the zone offers little clarity on near-term bullish or bearish direction.

Bitcoin’s Key Price ZonesAnalyzing on-chain data, trader Snow said Bitcoin's swift rally from roughly $89,000 to $97,000 created a false sense that the market had cleared major resistance.

According to Snow, the move occurred largely because resistance was thin, not because of underlying strength.

The $100,000 area, by contrast, is described as a dense liquidity zone where both long and short positions are frequently trapped. Snow characterized it as a control area designed to generate choppy price action, false breakouts, and stop hunts.

Snow outlined several key price zones shaping the current market structure:

$98,000–$102,000: The primary "magnet" zone, where price is repeatedly drawn back, producing consolidation, fake breakouts, and heightened volatility. $103,000–$106,000: A heavy resistance ceiling where rallies often stall with sharp rejections. This scenario is considered the most bullish but least likely in the near term. $94,000–$95,000: A critical support area acting as a trapdoor. Holding this zone keeps price stable, while a breakdown risks rapid downside movement. $92,000–$90,000: A potential air pocket if support fails, with $89,000–$88,000 marking the last major historical support zone. Snow emphasized that the recent rally should not be mistaken for strength, but rather a reflection of limited resistance below.

What Bitcoin Traders Should Look Out ForAs Bitcoin approaches $100,000, resistance is no longer a single level but a broader system designed to contain price and extract liquidity, often misleading traders about the market's true direction.

Snow said the most likely short-term outcome is consolidation around the $100,000 level, with price rotating inside the magnet zone through repeated failed breakouts and bought dips.

This environment tends to frustrate traders and increase losses from whipsaw price action.

When Bitcoin eventually breaks out of this range, Snow expects the move to be sharp and decisive.

Based on current structure, he noted that a downside break appears easier to achieve than a sustained upside breakout.

Image: Shutterstock

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Bitcoin gained as metals corrected, but the BOJ risk continues to loom.

A selloff in precious metals and lower U.S. stocks appeared to be denting crypto sentiment.

Chainlink price remained in a narrow range this year, but the Elliot Wave pattern points to a rebound amid rising catalysts.

Summary

Chainlink price has remained in a narrow range this year. The spot LINK ETFs have accumulated over $92 million in assets. The Elliott wave suggests that the coin has more upside. Chainlink (LINK) token was trading at $13.7 on Friday, down sharply from its highest point last year. Its market capitalization has moved to nearly $10 billion. 

LINK has several catalysts that may boost its performance in the near term. Bitwise launched the CLNK ETF this week, joining Bitwise’s GLNK fund. It has now gained over $2.5 million in inflows and nearly $5 million in assets. 

The two funds have accumulated over $66 million in inflows and have $92 milion in assets. These net assets are equivalent to 0.96% of the market cap, meaning that they have more room to go.

Meanwhile, CME Group, the biggest futures company in the United States, will launch LINK futures products. Such a launch will make it possible for more American investors to trade it with leverage.

The Strategic LINK Reserve has continued to accumulate assets. It now has 1.59 million LINK tokens worth $22 million, a figure that will likely continue growing over time. It added 82,057 coins this week.

All this is happening as the supply of LINK tokens in exchanges has continued moving downwards. Data compiled by CoinGlass shows that the supply has dropped to 120 million, down from last year’s high of nearly 160 million.

Chainllink price prediction: technical analysis  LINK price chart | Source: crypto.news The weekly chart shows that the LINK price has stalled in the past few weeks. This stalling happened near the lower side of the rising broadening wedge pattern, a common bullish continuation sign.

An Elliot Wave analysis shows that the token may be ripe for a bullish breakout in the near term. It recently completed forming the CD phase, which happened between December 2024 and November last year.

Therefore, it may be about to start the DE phase, which is usually bullish. If this happens, the next key level to watch will be at $27, its highest level in August last year. Such a move would be a 100% jump above the current level.

On the other hand, a move below the lower side of the broadening wedge will invalidate the bullish outlook.

A crypto whale has used a five-year-old leveraged decentralized finance strategy to buy tokenized gold, even as bullion prices show signs of cooling after recent record highs.

According to blockchain data cited by Lookonchain on social platform X, the large wallet accumulated tokenized gold worth about $38.4 million over the past 20 days using looped borrowing on Aave, one of the largest lending protocols in decentralized finance.

Whale 0x8522 purchased 8,337 units of tokenized gold while borrowing heavily against stablecoin collateral, analytics firm Lookonchain discovered. 

Whale takes up leveraged gold exposure through looped borrowing According to transactional data from deBank, the wallet borrowed USDe several times and swapped it into gold-backed token XAUt. Each transaction saw the whale borrow $11,600 worth of USDe and convert it into approximately 2.51 XAUt.

Whales are using looped borrowing to buy #gold.

Wallet 0x8522 has bought 8,337 $XAUt($38.4M) over the past 20 days, while borrowing 18.3M $USDe from Aave.https://t.co/C1ii4MVoVc pic.twitter.com/9A8dtYxiLm

— Lookonchain (@lookonchain) January 16, 2026

The address borrowed about $18.3 million in USDe in total from Aave, routed through decentralized exchange aggregator CoW swap.

Looped borrowing is a defi tactic that involves supplying an asset as collateral, borrowing against it, and then supplying the borrowed amount back into the protocol, which can be repeated several times.

For example, a user can deposit one unit of an asset into Aave, borrow up to a certain percentage based on loan-to-value limits, and then redeposit the borrowed amount.

A deposit of one ETH could become 1.75 ETH supplied and 0.75 ETH borrowed after a single loop. Several loops may magnify the exposure while also increasing liquidation risk if prices grow more volatile.

It is not known who was the first trader to use looped borrowing, but the strategy first came to the public’s attention during the yield farming boom of 2020, when governance token incentives made leveraged positions lucrative to the defi community. Some users had already experimented with similar mechanics after MakerDAO launched in 2017.

Today, looping is common in protocols such as Aave, Morpho, and Spark. Morpho has previously said that a majority of its volume comes from users who looped their assets.

Tokenized gold trades continue as bullion price bull run cools The whale’s accumulation comes as global gold prices counted its first back-to-back losses on Thursday’s close to Friday morning US sessions, since the year began. Spot gold extended losses from the previous session, pressured by stronger US economic data and a silent week in geopolitics. 

Gold slipped 0.1% to $4,610.86 per ounce by 12:00 GMT, after touching a record high of $4,642.72 earlier in the week. Despite the pullback, the special metal is on track for a weekly gain of about 2% when the business week ends today.

US gold futures for February delivery slumped 0.2% to $4,615, while the greenback index hovered near a six-week high. US job data released earlier in the week showed initial jobless claims fell to 198,000 last week, well below economists’ expectations. 

A stronger dollar, by historical evidence, makes gold more expensive for overseas buyers.

“There was a lot of momentum in the gold market, which seems to have faded slightly at the moment,” said Julius Baer analyst Carsten Menke. He believes the recent US economic news created headwinds for bullion prices.

Gold demand in India stayed muted as record prices dampened retail buying. In China, bullion traded at a premium as demand was mostly steady in preparation for the Lunar New Year.

Meanwhile, people inside Iran told Reuters that protests had subsided since earlier in the week, which may have reduced the immediate demand for safe-haven assets.

Looking at other precious metals markets, silver dropped 1.6% to $90.82 per ounce, though it has retained enough profits to see out the week with a 13% uptick, having hit an all-time high this week.

“The silver market seemed very determined to reach ‍the $100 per ounce threshold before moving lower again,” Menke explained.

Platinum fell 3.2% to $2,332.70 per ounce, and Palladium slid 2.6% to $1,754.35 after hitting a recent low and is heading for a weekly loss.

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U.S.-listed bitcoin miners entered 2026 with rising revenues, improving margins and recovering valuations, setting a more constructive near-term backdrop.

XRP has officially reclaimed its spot as a top performer in early 2026. After weeks of grueling consolidation and a tightening descending triangle pattern that kept traders on edge, the bulls have finally staged a massive breakout. This move signals a potential shift in market structure that could pave the way for a new all-time high.

XRP Breakout: Breaking the Descending TriangleThe technical setup for $XRP over the last few months of 2025 was dominated by a large descending triangle. While many feared a breakdown toward the $1.25 level, XRP bulls defended the $2.00 psychological support with iron resolve.

On January 14, 2026, XRP decisively broke above the upper resistance trendline of the triangle. This breakout was fueled by a surge in trading volume—nearly 189% above the daily average—confirming that this isn't just a "fakeout" but a genuine influx of institutional and retail demand.

XRP/USD 4H - TradingView

Key Technical Indicators Turning BullishMoving Averages: XRP has successfully flipped the 50-day and 100-day Exponential Moving Averages (EMA) into support.RSI and MACD: The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is climbing steadily without being overbought, while the MACD has printed a fresh bullish crossover on the daily timeframe.Volume Profile: Strong buying pressure near the $2.14–$2.17 zone indicates that the previous resistance has now become a solid floor.XRP Price Prediction: Next Bullish TargetsWith the descending triangle now behind us, the path of least resistance for XRP appears to be upward. Based on the height of the triangle and key Fibonacci extension levels, here are the primary targets for the coming weeks:

Intermediate Resistance ($2.30 - $2.42): This was the local peak reached on January 6, 2026. Reclaiming this zone is essential for a run toward higher levels.Major Target ($2.88): A successful hold above $2.42 opens the door to $2.88, a level analysts identify as the "final hurdle" before a true price discovery phase.Long-Term Bull Case ($3.66 - $5.00): If ETF inflows continue at their current pace—already totaling over $1.2 billion in net inflows—XRP could challenge its previous record high of $3.66 and aim for $5.00 by mid-2026.

XRP/USD 1D - TradingView

Before entering a trade, it is always wise to check an exchange comparison to ensure you are getting the best liquidity and lowest fees.

The Bearish Scenario: Worst-Case Support LevelsIn the volatile world of crypto news, even the strongest breakouts can face retests. While the sentiment is overwhelmingly bullish, traders must remain aware of the downside risks.

Immediate Support ($2.00): This remains the line in the sand. As long as XRP stays above $2.00, the bullish thesis remains intact.The "Safety Net" ($1.80): If a broader market correction occurs, XRP could dip to retest the December lows near $1.80.Worst-Case Scenario ($1.25): Should institutional support fail and the CLARITY Act face further delays, a "flash crash" toward the $1.25 liquidity zone remains the ultimate bearish target.Is it Time to Buy XRP?The technical breakout from the descending triangle is a powerful signal. With regulatory clarity following the SEC settlement and the growing success of XRP spot ETFs, the fundamentals are finally aligning with the charts. However, as with any high-reward asset, proper storage is key. If you are planning to hold XRP for the long term, consider using one of the top-rated hardware wallets to keep your assets secure.

The Dogecoin price shows signs of a major rally as the RSI resets to bullish levels. Analyst Trader Tardigrade identifies a pattern that preceded the 2020-2021 parabolic moves.

Newton Gitonga2 min read

16 January 2026, 02:38 PM

Edited 16 January 2026, 02:40 PM

Dogecoin appears poised for a significant price move, according to recent technical analysis from prominent cryptocurrency analyst Trader Tardigrade. The expert identified a recurring pattern on the asset's two-week chart that historically preceded major upward trends.

The analysis centers on the Relative Strength Index (RSI), a momentum oscillator that tracks overbought and oversold conditions. According to Trader Tardigrade's January 16 post, Dogecoin's RSI has pulled back to levels that previously signaled the start of substantial rallies.

"Dogecoin RSI has retracted for the coming massive surge," the analyst noted, drawing parallels to similar setups observed before the cryptocurrency's explosive movements in 2020 and 2021.

Historical Pattern Emerges on Extended TimeframeThe two-week chart reveals a compression phase taking shape. This period typically follows extended rallies and allows momentum indicators to cool before the next major move. The current RSI positioning mirrors accumulation zones from previous cycles that led to parabolic price increases.

Source: X

Dogecoin often experiences prolonged consolidation before breaking into aggressive uptrends. The digital asset spent months building support levels during past cycles before vertical rallies materialized. Similar characteristics appear in the current price action.

Higher lows and decreasing volatility mark the present range. These technical features typically indicate accumulation. The chart structure shows buyers establishing positions while bearish pressure diminishes.

Momentum indicators are beginning to curve upward from oversold territory. This shift suggests a potential transition from seller dominance to buyer control. The combination of these factors aligns with conditions observed before previous Dogecoin breakouts.

Current Market Position and Price ActionDogecoin trades at $0.1378 at press time. The price reflects mixed performance across different timeframes. The cryptocurrency declined 4.68% over the past day and dropped 1.52% during the previous week. However, the monthly chart shows a 6.06% gain.

DOGE’s price action over the past 24 hours (Source: CoinCodex)

The recent pullback may represent a healthy correction within a larger bullish structure. Technical analysts often view such retracements as opportunities for late entrants or position accumulation. The price action suggests consolidation rather than trend reversal.

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Newton Gitonga covers cryptocurrencies, blockchain, and digital finance. He specializes in breaking down complex trends with clear, data-driven reporting. His work focuses on market analysis, technical insights, and the evolving role of altcoins in shaping global markets.

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Skip to the content Jean-Luc Maracon January 16, 2026

Bitcoin’s performance in 2025 was marked by volatility, failing to meet the high expectations set for the year. The anticipated bull run did not materialize as predicted, despite several favorable conditions such as the post-halving period and the introduction of Bitcoin ETFs. The year also saw changes in political leadership and significant corporate investments in Bitcoin, but these were not enough to sustain an upward momentum throughout the year.

The year began with optimism, fueled by new fair value accounting rules and a pro-crypto administration in the United States. Key appointments included Paul Atkins at the SEC and Mike Selig at the CFTC, providing regulatory hope for the cryptocurrency sector. MicroStrategy’s aggressive Bitcoin purchases further highlighted institutional interest. However, these developments were offset by market disruptions, including technical issues at exchanges and geopolitical tensions that adversely affected market sentiment.

Throughout 2025, the Bitcoin market experienced significant pressure from long-term holders liquidating their positions, which contributed to price stagnation. Market volatility was exacerbated by technical glitches and market rumors, leading to forced liquidations and reduced confidence among investors. Despite some positive regulatory changes and corporate endorsements, Bitcoin’s price remained range-bound, unable to break through key resistance levels.

Looking forward to 2026, market participants are divided on whether Bitcoin will experience a significant recovery. The presence of a crypto-friendly administration might provide a conducive environment for growth. Additionally, the market could benefit from a potential increase in global money supply as nations address looming debt obligations, which may enhance liquidity in the financial markets.

The potential for a liquidity-driven bull market exists, but it is subject to various risks. Factors such as regulatory uncertainties, market manipulation, and macroeconomic conditions could influence Bitcoin’s trajectory. The interplay between traditional financial markets and cryptocurrency markets remains complex, and Bitcoin’s status as a high-risk asset could lead to heightened volatility.

As the market navigates these challenges, observers will closely monitor regulatory developments and corporate actions. Potential amendments to existing financial products and the introduction of new investment vehicles could offer new opportunities for Bitcoin adoption. However, these developments are unpredictable, and market participants must remain vigilant.

In summary, Bitcoin’s outlook for 2026 is uncertain, with both opportunities and risks on the horizon. Institutional interest and regulatory changes may drive growth, but external factors could pose significant challenges. Market participants will need to stay informed and adaptable as they navigate this evolving landscape.

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Jean-Luc Maracon Jean-Luc Maracon is a French-Swiss expert in decentralized finance, known for his sharp analysis of Bitcoin, European Web3 projects, and crypto regulatory challenges. Splitting his time between Geneva and Paris, he brings a unique perspective blending traditional finance with blockchain innovation. He regularly collaborates with crypto platforms across Europe to help make digital investing more accessible. Specialties: Bitcoin, staking, European regulation, crypto security, Web3.

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West Virginia lawmakers introduced legislation this week that would authorize the state treasurer to invest a portion of public funds in bitcoin, precious metals, and regulated stablecoins, marking a significant step toward integrating digital assets into state-level finance.

West Virginia Senate Bill 143, introduced by Sen. Chris Rose during the 2026 regular legislative session, would create a new section of state law titled the “Inflation Protection Act of 2026.” The measure permits the Board of Treasury Investments to allocate up to 10% of funds it oversees into gold, silver, platinum, and certain digital assets, subject to existing investment rules.

Under the bill, the West Virginia could invest in digital assets that maintained an average market capitalization above $750 billion over the prior calendar year. That threshold currently limits eligibility to only bitcoin, without naming the asset directly in statute. 

At the end of the digital bill, there is text that says “The purpose of this bill is to empower the Treasurer to invest in gold, silver, and bitcoin.” 

The bill also allows investments in stablecoins that have received regulatory approval at either the federal or state level.

The proposed 10% cap would apply at the time an investment is made. If asset prices rise and push the allocation above that threshold, the board would not be required to sell holdings, though it would be barred from making additional purchases until the allocation falls back below the limit.

The legislation includes detailed custody requirements for digital assets. Holdings would need to be secured either directly by the West Virginia treasurer through a defined secure custody system, by a qualified third-party custodian, or through a registered exchange-traded product. 

The bill outlines standards for key control, geographic redundancy, access controls, audits, and disaster recovery.

In addition to holding digital assets, the bill would allow the treasurer to pursue yield-generating activities. Digital assets could be staked using third-party providers if legal ownership remains with West Virginia. The treasurer could also loan digital assets under rules designed to avoid added financial risk.

Precious metals investments could be held through exchange-traded products, by qualified custodians, or directly by West Virginia in physical form. The bill allows for cooperative custody arrangements with other states, subject to rules established by the treasurer.

West Virginia retirement funds would face tighter limits. Under the proposal, retirement systems could invest only in exchange-traded products registered with federal or state regulators, rather than holding digital assets directly.

The bill grants the treasurer authority to propose implementing rules, which would require legislative approval.

The proposal reflects a growing interest among U.S. states in using bitcoin and hard assets as long-term stores of value for public funds. 

West Virginia and other states exploring bitcoin Several states have explored or enacted similar measures allowing limited exposure to digital assets, though most have relied on exchange-traded products rather than direct custody.

Most recently, Rhode Island lawmakers reintroduced Senate Bill S2021, which would temporarily exempt small Bitcoin transactions from state income and capital gains taxes, allowing up to $5,000 per month and $20,000 annually to be tax-free.

Introduced January 9 by Senator Peter A. Appollonio, the bill was referred to the Senate Finance Committee and is framed as a pilot program to reduce tax friction for everyday Bitcoin use. 

This marks the second consecutive year Rhode Island legislators have proposed a targeted Bitcoin tax exemption.

West Virginia Senate Bill 143 has been referred to the Senate Committee on Banking and Insurance, with a subsequent referral to the Committee on Finance. 

At the time of writing, Bitcoin is trading at $95,494 with a 24-hour volume of $52 billion, down 1% on the day and roughly 1% below its seven-day high of $96,933. The asset’s market cap stands at $1.91 trillion, supported by a circulating supply of 19.98 million BTC out of a maximum 21 million.

Micah Zimmerman

Micah first discovered Bitcoin in 2018 but remained a skeptic on the sidelines for too long. Since 2021, he has covered crypto and business and now works as a news reporter for Bitcoin Magazine, based in North Carolina.

XRP trades near $2.06 after rejecting $2.13. MACD, RSI, Elliott Wave, ETF inflows, and exchange outflows suggest a possible reversal.

Ripple’s native cross-border token is trading near key levels after retreating from the $2.13 zone. Price action has slowed, but signs from momentum indicators suggest a potential shift.

Momentum Indicators Show Early Signals The 4-hour chart shows XRP still moving within a descending channel. It is holding inside this structure, with buyers responding near the lower boundary. The $2.00 area, labeled as a liquidity pocket, remains a level of interest. According to ChartNerd,

“Price action is respecting the channel support and resistance.”

The MACD histogram is showing signs of slowing bearish momentum. The bars are shrinking, which can point to an early shift. The Stochastic RSI has already made a crossover in the oversold zone. This pattern often appears before local reversals. ChartNerd also noted that the price may remain inside the channel until the $2 level is tapped, with a breakout or breakdown likely to follow.

At press time, XRP is trading at $2.06, down more than 2% over the past 24 hours. Over the past week, it has lost 2% of value as well. Traders sold into strength near $2.13, locking in gains from the recent rally off the $1.80 level. XRP is now consolidating near support.

Moreover, EGRAG CRYPTO shared a long-term view based on Elliott Wave theory. The chart shows XRP completing Waves (1) through (3), now sitting in a Wave (4) correction. If the structure holds, Wave (5) may follow, which is usually where momentum expands.

The chart also highlights repeating behavior from past cycles. The asset has pulled back into rising support zones before forming higher lows. These points, marked by white and green circles, have followed a consistent pattern. EGRAG wrote, “That behavior is not weakness, it’s structure repeating,” and pointed to a possible target range between $15 and $22.

#XRP – The Chart Is Screaming, People Aren’t Listening (🎯$20):

💡Focus on the white⚪️ & green 🟢circles on the chart. That behavior is not weakness, it’s structure repeating.

🏳️What’s happening there:
▫️Price pulls back into rising support (21 EMA zone)
▫️Momentum cools… pic.twitter.com/s1ldjuDNKH

— EGRAG CRYPTO (@egragcrypto) January 16, 2026

You may also like: ETH, XRP, and Meme Coins Shine as Retail Sentiment Reacts to Short-Term Catalysts End of a Ripple Era: Here’s What Happened With the Spot XRP ETFs Last Week Spot XRP ETFs’ Record Green Streak Snapped as Ripple Price Plunges 13% in Days Exchange Flows and ETF Inflows Support Demand XRP outflows from Upbit have increased again. CW8900 observed,

“When XRP outflows from Upbit occurred, the price of XRP rose.”

Similar movements were seen in late 2024. Exchange-held XRP has dropped below 2 billion tokens, down from over 4 billion late last year, showing lower sell-side pressure.

Institutional interest remains steady. Spot XRP ETFs have attracted a combined $1.27 billion in inflows, according to SoSoValue data. On a day when the broader crypto market lost $47 billion in value, XRP ETFs still recorded $17 million in net inflows.

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Christopher Wood, global head of equity strategy at Jefferies, has removed Bitcoin from his model portfolio after four years, citing mounting fears that quantum computing could undermine the cryptocurrency’s cryptographic security.

According to Bloomberg, Wood eliminated a 10% Bitcoin allocation and replaced it with equal parts physical gold and gold-mining stocks, warning that advances in quantum technology threaten Bitcoin’s viability as a long-term store of value.

The strategist’s exit reflects growing mainstream concern over quantum threats, with Wood stating in his “Greed & Fear” newsletter that the Bitcoin community increasingly believes quantum computing “could only be a few years away rather than a decade or more.“

He warned that any breach of Bitcoin’s cryptographic foundation “is potentially existential as it undermines the concept of Bitcoin as a store of value and therefore as a digital alternative to gold.“

The once-distant threat of quantum computing has prompted one of the most closely followed market strategists to walk away from Bitcoin https://t.co/JtVvG2PlBg

— Bloomberg (@business) January 16, 2026 The debate over quantum risk has intensified sharply in recent months, dividing prominent figures across the cryptocurrency ecosystem.

Nic Carter, a partner at Castle Island Ventures, accused influential Bitcoin developers of being “in denial” about quantum computing threats, citing hundreds of millions of dollars in capital flowing into quantum computing development and U.S. government plans to deprecate classical cryptography by 2030.

Blockstream CEO Adam Back pushed back against Carter’s warnings, arguing that developers are quietly preparing quantum defenses without creating market panic.

“You make uninformed noise and try to move the market or something. You’re not helping,” Back wrote in a December post criticizing Carter’s public statements.

Despite the disagreement, Carter maintained his concerns are justified, noting that “companies are raising $100s of m to build QCs that can crack ECC” while “bitcoins mere existence is accelerating QC development.“

Solana co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko added urgency to the discussion at the All-In Summit 2025, warning there’s a 50% chance of a quantum breakthrough within five years.

“Bitcoin should migrate to quantum-resistant signature schemes as AI acceleration makes the timeline from research to implementation astounding,” Yakovenko stated.

One-Third of Bitcoin Supply Potentially VulnerableSecurity researchers estimate that approximately 30% of Bitcoin’s circulating supply is subject to quantum exposure under certain conditions.

David Duong, Global Head of Investment Research at Coinbase, calculated that roughly 6.51 million BTC sits in address types more vulnerable to long-range quantum attacks, including legacy Pay-to-Public-Key outputs and some Taproot constructions where public keys are already visible on-chain.

In an interview with Cryptonews last year, David Carvalho, CEO of Naoris Protocol and a former ethical hacker, warned that “any Bitcoin in lost wallets, including Satoshi (if not alive), will be hacked and put back in circulation” once sufficiently powerful quantum computers emerge.

Carvalho described “Q-Day” as arriving within three to five years, cautioning that “about 30% of all the BTC in circulation is sitting in addresses that contain public keys directly. The moment a powerful quantum rig is running, those coins are fair game.“

Major institutions have begun acknowledging the threat, with BlackRock flagging quantum risks in its iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF prospectus and Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino warning about exposure to inactive wallets.

While Ardoino reassured that “quantum computing is still very far from any meaningful risk of breaking Bitcoin cryptography,” he acknowledged that active wallet holders will need to migrate funds to quantum-resistant addresses once such protections become available.

Price Resilience Tested Amid Growing Technical ConcernsBitcoin continues trading near $97,000 despite debates over quantum security, supported by renewed ETF inflows and broader macro optimism.

Source: TradingViewSpeaking with Cryptonews, Timot Lamarre, Director of Market Research at Bitcoin financial services firm Unchained, which secures over $10 billion in BTC, believes ETF holder behavior will signal whether the rally sustains under growing technical scrutiny.

“The market value to realized value (MVRV) for bitcoin ETF holders has held strong above 1.0. Falling below 1.0 could scare off some investors,” Lamarre stated.

He noted ETF holders demonstrated resilience throughout 2024 despite extended periods of negative returns, adding that “it is expected that rates will likely have to come down, benefitting bitcoin, given the fact that $9+ Trillion worth of debt from the pandemic era is rolling over in 2026 and the interest expense paid is projected to be over $1T as well.“

Wood’s shift back to gold after abandoning Bitcoin reflects his conviction that debates over quantum computing create conditions favoring traditional precious metals as “a historically tested hedge in an increasingly uncertain geopolitical world.“

Ripple and LMAX Group Forge Strategic Alliance to Power Institutional Stablecoin AdoptionRipple has signed a landmark multi-year agreement with LMAX Group aimed at accelerating institutional stablecoin adoption and unlocking seamless cross-asset mobility across global financial markets. 

At the heart of the collaboration is the integration of Ripple’s U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin, RLUSD, as a core collateral asset across LMAX Group’s institutional trading infrastructure.

Under the partnership, LMAX will integrate RLUSD as both a core collateral and settlement currency, enabling global clients, including leading banks, brokers, and buy-side institutions, to unlock cross-collateralised trading and meaningful margin efficiencies. 

Notably, this integration will allow institutions to deploy RLUSD seamlessly across spot crypto, perpetual futures, and CFD markets, optimizing capital efficiency and breaking down traditional asset-class silos.

Furthermore, the partnership is backed by a $150 million financing commitment from Ripple to fuel LMAX Group’s long-term cross-asset expansion. The investment underscores a shared vision to build a more efficient, on-chain financial ecosystem, enabling frictionless settlement, real-time value transfer, and institutional-grade reliability.

Jack McDonald, SVP of Stablecoins at Ripple, welcomed the partnership, stating:

“LMAX has long been a leader in providing the transparent, regulated infrastructure that institutional players require. This partnership will accelerate the utilisation of RLUSD—already a top 5 USD-backed stablecoin—within one of the largest and most sophisticated trading environments.”

A cornerstone of the partnership is the integration of LMAX’s digital assets exchange with Ripple Prime, Ripple’s multi-asset prime brokerage platform. 

By uniting LMAX’s regulated, high-performance exchange infrastructure with Ripple Prime’s credit intermediation and brokerage capabilities, the collaboration creates a seamless, institutional-grade gateway to digital assets, reducing market fragmentation, optimizing collateral efficiency, and mitigating counterparty risk.

For LMAX Group clients, the integration unlocks immediate, tangible advantages. RLUSD will function as both a collateral and settlement currency across spot crypto and fiat FX markets, boosting liquidity and capital flexibility. 

Margin efficiency is materially enhanced, as institutions can deploy RLUSD to fund margin for perpetual futures and CFD trading, streamlining collateral management and reducing the need to maintain fragmented capital pools.

ConclusionThe Ripple–LMAX partnership represents a major inflection point in institutional finance, uniting traditional markets and digital assets at scale. By embedding RLUSD as a core collateral and settlement asset, the collaboration transforms how capital is deployed, managed, and mobilized across asset classes. 

Supported by Ripple’s $150 million financing and the integration of Ripple Prime, the alliance delivers a secure, scalable, and always-on trading ecosystem that eliminates long-standing market inefficiencies. 

As institutional demand accelerates for seamless liquidity, capital efficiency, and 24/7 market access, the partnership firmly positions RLUSD, and stablecoins more broadly, as foundational infrastructure for the next era of on-chain, cross-asset financial markets.